Engage - African Health Action Toolkit

Why Engage?

Advancing health and development requires engagement from community members, governments, health and related sectors, and relevant stakeholders; particularly those who will be directly affected by the final decisions.

Key Questions to Consider

Who—from which sectors—need to be engaged in the health and development effort, and why?
Who—from which sectors—can help in addressing important health and development goals, and how can we engage them?
Have those who are directly experiencing the problem been participating?
Have people who have responsibility or influence to change conditions been participating?
Is it rewarding to participate (e.g., clear roles, rewards, respect)?
Is it relatively easy to participate (e.g., time, effort, cost, location)?
Have we created an environment that encourages full and effective participation?

Some Recommended Actions

__ Identify those who need to be engaged for all relevant sectors (e.g., health, education, transport), including those most affected and those who can address the group’s goals.
__ Reach out to those you most want to involve through trusted people, organizations, and networks.
__ Communicate the need and benefits of taking action together across sectors.
__ Make participation more rewarding and attractive.
__ Make participation easier and of lower cost (i.e., time, effort, money).
__ Improve peoples’ abilities to be involved (e.g., provide information, skill training, technical support).
__ Create an environment that fosters full and effective participation.